Continuing our tour of Peter Paul Fortress to the Museum of Russian History

The museum of Russian History is housed inside of Peter Paul Fortress, compound. While the Russian Museum isn't actually full of Russian History, it's full of art, largely made by Russian/Soviet artists. So while that's very interesting, it's not Russian History. When I think about it, there really isn't much to Russian History, a lot of it is "sanitized" to portray what they want you to know. (Good example of that coming up...) 

These are part of the first part of the museum, that includes how the Fortress was built and who initially inhibited the area that is now Saint Petersburg. 

Glance upon my marginal photo skillz. The dress was really ornate and brocade-esque. There was also a mans outfit, but meh. Dresses. 

This is, the initial and not much changed layout of Peter Paul Fortress. Notice the island, it's maybe not exactly an island. Lot's of Saint Petersburg is manmade, and by man made I mean slaves scooping mud with their own hands to lay foundations. Peter the Great's overall vision/dream of creating a door way to the west, was basically funded and created in a pretty tight headline, though he died before it was completed. Many people have this vision, that Saint Petersburg has been around since the 1500's or 1600's. It was the mid 18th century, almost into the 19th century when it was inhabited by people who had "money". So because of this, the city has hardly changed, meanwhile Moscow keeps catching on fire and having to be rebuilt. 

Here is a boat anchor, the grandparents and Loki. It was either too hot, and too cold all at the same time. Most palace museums are either too hot/too cold and drafty all at the same time. The lady in the maroon vest, is the "security guard" who prevents you from touching things. Because nobody should touch anything that's been groped for 300 years. 

Here is Loki with his sucker, looking at some of the early "cabinet members"/friends of Peter the Great who helped to create the country that is Russia during the time he was reigning. To say that Peter the Great completely modernized the country is true. According to the children's book I read the country was pretty backwards, and he moved everything in to the 17th century. He worked with Western European countries to learn what is the best of everything, and attempted to bring that back to Russia. 

Peter Paul Fortress with a little more attention to detail

Peter Paul Fortress is the oldest compound/series of buildings in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg only became the city it is because of Peter the Great (June 1622-February 1725). Before most of the Russian people and royalty lived and hid in Moscow. Most Europeans didn't go to Moscow, and most Muscovites didn't leave Russia. All that changed with the creation of Saint Petersburg. 

This was a tourist booth, that had two black cats sitting outside of it. The black/red/white stripes signify something. This was the second set of cats that I saw at the fortress. 

The photos are out of order for some reason. I thought this was the first image I took. This is the entrance to the fortress somewhere. That's the Russian symbol, and some images of a religious experience or something. 

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So here is a longer shot of the cats. So the snow is starting to melt a little, but then it would freeze at night. So it was a bit slippery. A lady fell and she was older and okay.  

So here is the symbol and the wall thing. 

I would like to think that these sculptures (larger than life, my life at least) I would like to assume is of the goddess of wisdom and plenty. Athena and Hera probably. They were huge and impressive. Also I couldn't climb up to get my picture with them. 

Athena, Hera, or something like that. 

This is like a panorama from the Fortress. We were freezing, and I was trying to get some nice pictures. I had to shuffle out there and not slip and break my leg. 

So there you can see, some of the fortress, the bridge and the frozen Neva. The river is pretty darn frozen. 

This is a another shot. Apparently in the 1850s the river flooded into the fortress. Though you would think something like that would happen more frequently. Especially since it floods in Oregon constantly. The flag is of some significance because it is to honor both Naval and Land soldiers. 

Here is where I kind of almost peed my pants. I don't know if you can see the gun to the left of the photo, maybe you can't but I am telling you it's there. Well apparently they shoot the gun off frequently. In the history of the fortress the cannon(s) have gone off at noon regularly. Then they would shoot off on arrival of dignitary, death, birth and whatever else they thought was a good reason to fire it off. Then around 1936 they stopped the daily noon time boom, long enough to stop before WWII. 

Okay, here it is the giant gun. It's a land to air missile launcher, and it was so loud I clutched the stroller that Loki was sitting in and cried out because I didn't think it was as loud as it was going to be. Because I thought fourth of July boom shell, and they bring it. Also I remember there being a huge kick back and people being up along the ramparts(?). 

I will conclude the post with a video of the gun being shot off : Peter Paul fortress Gun please enjoy the car alarms. 

Took a break, flew back to the states.

We left Russia on 2/18, those photos will come soon enough. The last thing I shared was the images from the "Deepest Aquarium in Russia". While it wasn't very large, it did have a lot of interesting animals. There were some manta rays that would flop their fins out of the water. The aquarium was enjoyed by all. 

This is an image, though not a very spectacular one of a dachshund, in a doggy snow suit. I think this dog also had a scarf, and a probably a sweater. He was very friendly and seemed very comfortable in the dog suit. This was not the first dog that I saw in a snow suit. Larger dogs were generally unsuited by smaller and medium sized dogs were suited. Loki complained so much about his suit, I wonder what the dogs complaints are. 

Here is a lovely image, of the temperature (in celsius 0 degrees, in Fahrenheit 32 degrees). The gas station has a Burger King attached to it and is across the street from Peter Paul Fortress, behind the gas station is a huge beautiful mosque. The price is 35 Rubles (1.15$) 31.70R (1.04$) 28.90R (.95$). Of course the prices are per litre, so it's about 4.60 for a gallon That's a taxi, I can't tell what kind of car it is, and it's not one that we took. But we rode very interesting cars through out or time there. Hover was my favorite. 

Here is a lovely image of my camera strap to the right. These men to the center, are not ice fishing because why would you use a giant chain saw to ice fish with? I never did figure out what exactly they were sawing up. I would think that it was to help from the frozen river cracking the bridge, or getting caught up around the bridge. Also that's bright yellow snow, I am not sure why they would pee so closely to where they are working, but that's their choice. Also that's a giant sledge hammer, to hammer each other with. 

These were the images I caught before we went to Peter Paul Fortress for the second time. More on that later. 

The most recent images are from the end of January

Which makes me wonder, if I should just try and upload the last thousand images on here and stop with the witty comments.
In my mind I considered this to go much faster, but in reality it was complicated. Of course the four people who are viewing this regularly I wouldn't end the images prior to our return to the states, because I still have a handful of awesome.
I am continuing this post, back in Oregon. I haven't dug the camera out and I would love to upload some photo's but I don't really have the umph. I am hoping to finish my project soon. Hoping!
The flight(s) were long, and painful at times.
Hoping to have more for everyone soon!

We went to an Aquarium in a mall.

They actually call it an Oceanarium over here. I did scream when a Koi fish jumped towards my fingers, and when I thought a Sturgeon was going to eat my face. It was really close to me, and it freaked me out. I was pretty scared of the sturgeon. The sturgeon are a big deal overe here. 

This is a sturgeon that scared the crap out of me. It was right next to my face, and I was pretty sure it was going to eat me. 

So the aquarium/oceanarium is situated deep under the ground of a mall. It was pretty intense. I guess it gets the moniker, "the deepest aquarium in Russia". This is one of those walk through exhibits. It has a moveable walkway. Guess what Loki loved the most! 

During the time we were watching the scuba diver clean the glass panels off. 

This a portion of the aquarium before the seals/ sea lions. 

Loki and Grandma and Grandpa. 

Looking at the seals, in their environment. 

This is the mall, and the Oceanarium. The Oceanarium, goes pretty deep into the ground. It's a pretty awesome experience. 

http://www.planeta-neptun.ru

The crowd at the museum was pretty diverse. A lot of them were older teens, some where maybe young couples, there where a few children. Loki really enjoyed the aquarium. He has been watching Finding Nemo  a lot lately. So he really enjoys the aquarium. This was really close to where Peter went to university, so it was an interesting walk down memory lane for Larisa and Sergey. When Peter was in University, Larisa and Sergey would take the bus from Veleike Luki to Saint Petersburg. I can't really imagine taking the 6 hour bus ride to visit a 17, 18 year old kid. But that's the case for them. Maybe when Loki gets a little older I will understand this. 

Some Images that I like recently.

When Peter was still here, I was told that it was pretty much forbidden to take pictures inside of the Metro. They are federal property, police and cameras monitor them constantly. But the interiors are so gorgeous considering they are subway stations. The exteriors are gorgeous also, but I always forget to take pictures of those because... 

I really liked the composition of this image. The two elderly women sitting underneath the lady and her scales mosaic. I can't remember this particular station, I believe it was built in 1955, and mosaics covered both sides. 

At the Central Park of Leisure there were two sculptures pretty close to the entrance. The right is Gustav Klimts' "The Kiss"  Which has also been rendered on nesting doll, and lacquered box, and possibly scarf. 

This is "The Dance" by Matisse, also you can see the painting in The State Hermitage. 

Here's a McDonald's that has a walk up window, because drive thru's are for squares. Yes somebodies using the window. 

Interior of McDonalds. This time I got some counter shots. 

McDonalds' workers are required (as part of their unitard)  to wear polo (or whatever) and jeans. Also from what I could infer they are not to pleased to have some tourist taking pictures. (It wasn't busy to my credit, and it's not like I was trying to take his picture.)  Sometimes the lady employees had on jean skirts, sometimes just jean pants. These were uniform, as they all looked the same and had a wider cut then the skin tight jeans as is preferred over here. This McDonalds was super fancy on the inside, attached to a mall and aquarium. Also they occasionally have a McCafe but as a separate cash register/stand whatever. I noticed Teremok also did this. What's Teremok you ask? Well it's a blini (crepe) fast food joint. It sells ethnic Russian food, blini's, borscht, and salads(Salads not like in the states but Russian style: Heavy on the mayo and usually combined. For instance we have had them with boiled egg, peas, pickles and lots of mayo.If you like Mayonnaise severed a million different ways, this is the place for you!), also Russian desserts. 

What's at the end of the Zoological Museum?

A live bug museum! Yes, dead animals didn't quench your excitement for Filozoa ?  That's cool, because you can watch some live bugs, just a couple more Rubles. 

I have learned that the top word, is pronounced Zoopark. If you watch Cheburashka
 you will be familiar with the word Zoopark. 

This is a view from the second floor to the first floor. I am not really sure how the divide up the floors because most buildings use the basement for cloak rooms, and water closets. 

Happy Darwin Day a couple of days ago!(2.12) This is a pretty interesting presentation. Here's hoping that's not a Piltdown man though. 

The sign reads: "Systematic collections of fishes, amphibians, reptiles and birds (left side of hall). Systematic collection of the invertebrates and expositions. Birds of the geographical zones (right side of  hall)" This was on level one, with the giant whale skeleton and Seals.